Speaker Dy strengthens consumer protection with fuel price shield under KALINGA bill

Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III on Monday outlined the first major intervention under the proposed KALINGA Act, positioning the measure as a fuel price stabilization shield as the House prepares for a new round of hearings this week after United States President Donald Trump announced that the US would move to blockade the Strait of Hormuz following stalled talks aimed at ending the Iran conflict.

Dy said developments affecting the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s key oil shipping routes—highlight the need for the government to prepare policy tools that can cushion potential volatility in fuel prices.

Dy, together with House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos, filed House Bill No. 8834 establishing the KALINGA Program—Komprehensibong Alalay sa Livelihood, Inflation, Negosyo and Goods Assistance—a centralized framework designed to cushion the impact of fuel-driven inflation while ensuring energy and essential goods supply.

The proposal integrates seven components: (1) fuel price stabilization; (2) energy supply security and inventory management; (3) targeted assistance; (4) essential goods and logistics stabilization; (5) MSME energy relief and business continuity; (6) energy conservation and demand reduction; and (7) flexible fiscal and regulatory measures.

The first pillar—Section 5 of the proposed measure—focuses on stabilizing pump prices and cushioning the immediate impact of oil shocks through targeted fuel subsidies, flexible fuel tax adjustments, price-smoothing mechanisms, and temporary transport fare support.

Under Section 5, the Fuel Price Stabilization Component includes targeted fuel subsidy programs for the transport, agriculture, fisheries, and logistics sectors; flexible fuel tax adjustments, including the temporary suspension, reduction, or staggered implementation of excise taxes on petroleum products; fuel price-smoothing mechanisms; temporary transport fare support programs; and other price stabilization interventions as may be necessary.

The Speaker from Isabela said the measure is intended to enable the government to act quickly before fuel price spikes ripple across the entire economy.

“Kapag tumaas ang presyo ng krudo, may domino effect ito sa pamasahe, pagkain, kuryente, at presyo ng mga bilihin. Hindi puwedeng maghintay lang tayo habang tumataas ang presyo ng bilihin. We need to be proactive,” said Dy.

“The KALINGA bill creates a fuel price stabilization shield so government can intervene quickly through targeted subsidies, flexible tax tools, and price-smoothing mechanisms to cushion the impact on ordinary Filipinos.”

Dy emphasized that the stabilization component is designed to provide immediate relief while the broader KALINGA framework addresses supply, logistics, and long-term resilience.

“This is not just about reacting to price increases. It’s about preventing a full-blown inflationary spiral by stabilizing fuel costs at the outset,” the Speaker said.

The measure prioritizes targeted and time-bound interventions, including support for the transport, agriculture, fisheries, and logistics sectors—industries most directly affected by fuel price movements.

Dy said the filing of the KALINGA bill is one of the concrete legislative actions the House is proposing as the Legislative Energy Action Development (LEAD) Joint Committee continues deliberations this week.

The LEAD Joint Committee, composed of 13 House committees, is scheduled to hold hearings on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday in order to consolidate both immediate relief measures and long-term reforms in response to global oil price volatility.